Can I get Severe Disability Premium - Live in motor home on parents property

Duttster

I have just recently been awarded PIP Daily living Enhanced Rate. I also receive ESA and am in the support group. Shortly after receiving the PIP award, ESA wrote to me advising I may be entitled to the severe disability premium. I had a good read through and seem to meet all the criteria. There is one that worries me though with regards to having to live alone. I live in a motor home on my parents property. It has it's own bathroom so I don't share with my family. Obviously I pop in the family home to see them from time to time and I pay them the sum of £140.00 a month for use of the motor-home. Does it matter that my parents, as non-dependants live in a house next to me? Will living in a motor-home class me as living alone meaning I can claim. I really don't want to fall foul of this as the calculation for premium entitlement seems a little bit more complex than usual.

Thank you

rogerblack

Living alone does not mean nobody owns your home other than you.

What might be a useful limit to consider is - are either of you (parents or you) doing things that might be unusual in other peoples houses on a visit.
For example, do you always shower in their house, ...

This might indicate that you're using the houses 'as one' - and they should be treated as one and therefore you're not living alone.

Apply for it, send a covering letter outlining what your full situation is, and keep a copy of this letter.

pmlindyloo

Duttster wrote: »

I have just recently been awarded PIP Daily living Enhanced Rate. I also receive ESA and am in the support group. Shortly after receiving the PIP award, ESA wrote to me advising I may be entitled to the severe disability premium. I had a good read through and seem to meet all the criteria. There is one that worries me though with regards to having to live alone. I live in a motor home on my parents property. It has it's own bathroom so I don't share with my family. Obviously I pop in the family home to see them from time to time and I pay them the sum of £140.00 a month for use of the motor-home. Does it matter that my parents, as non-dependants live in a house next to me? Will living in a motor-home class me as living alone meaning I can claim. I really don't want to fall foul of this as the calculation for premium entitlement seems a little bit more complex than usual.

Thank you

Are you claiming housing benefit?

NYM

Is there a CT liability on the Motor Home ?

Duttster

Hi there. No there is no Council Tax liability on the motor home.,

Duttster

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Are you claiming housing benefit?

Hello. No I do not receive Housing Benefit. I pay the monthly fee out of my ESA funds. My parents charge me such a small amount that I never thought it worth the hassle to claim housing benefit.

pmlindyloo

There is a copy of the form (a download) on the last post here:

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/1914/#7757

I think someone has uploaded it after copying an original as I can't find an original to download - Job Centre sends them to you!

Anyway, looking at the form (if it hasn't changed) then it seems that you would be entitled to SDP as no one lives with you.

However, I do agree with previous poster, put a note with the form to explain the circumstances.

Just checking, no one is receiving CA for you are they?

NYM

Duttster wrote: »

Hi there. No there is no Council Tax liability on the motor home.,

I asked because I think (don't take it as fact though..) if you are living in it permanently, it would be classed as a separate residence for CT purpose just as an annex on a house might if it's occupied separately to the rest of the house.

If it isn't, I can't see how it might be regarded as a separate dwelling.

System

If, as appears here, the camper is being used as a permanent residence then it needs planning permission. Has it got this?

rogerblack

CT liability/planning permission/... are all not related to eligibiligy for SDP though.

NYM

rogerblack wrote: »

CT liability/planning permission/... are all not related to eligibiligy for SDP though.

I may be mistaken, but I thought eligibility for SDP is dependant on the OP regarded as living alone ?

In this case, if the mobile home is not regarded as a separate dwelling, then surely it forms part of the same property i.e. the parents property.

Anyhow, a mobile home (a motor home is regarded in the same way as a mobile home) that is lived in permanently is subject to CT.